NICOSIA (Reuters) - The Greek Orthodox Church in Cyprus said Thursday it would not bury people taking their own lives, declaring suicides "the greatest sin."
"The church condemns suicide and has banned church burials for those who take their lives," said a spokesman for the Holy Synod, the church ruling body.
"It is the ultimate sin which shows disrespect to the will of God."
Previously the church, a powerful institution with business interests ranging from real estate to industry and banking, had frowned on suicides but there was not an outright ban.
The church said it would only make allowances for people who were mentally disturbed with a medical certificate to prove it.
Most parish priests now turn a blind eye to the circumstances of a death to perform a funeral service. The church ruling changes that.